Sunday, December 18, 2016

Thrown to the Wolves

By Naomi Clark

Thank you for having me
today! I'm here with my new Romance on the Go, THROWN TO THE WOLVES. This story
was partially inspired by an article I read on Romania's Hoia Forest earlier
this year. It's long been famous for paranormal activity, from UFO sightings to
the strangely shaped trees. Some people believe it's a gateway to another
dimension, whilst others say it's haunted by the ghost of murdered peasants.
There's a rich history of folklore and urban legend growing there, and so what
better place to set a paranormal tale?

I've stayed away from UFOs and ghosts, though, and instead gone with vampires
and werewolves. Well, it is Romania! In THROWN TO THE WOLVES, aspiring author
and tattooed tomboy Paige goes hunting for inspiration. And she finds
it...along with danger, ancient enemies, and of course, love. I hope you'll
enjoy my little venture into the Hoia Forest!

Blurb

Paige went to Romania
looking for inspiration for a book. She found herself caught in a horror story.
Attacked and left for dead by a vampire, Paige finds herself at the mercy of
Kata, a beautiful, enigmatic werewolf. Their attraction is instant, but Paige's
fate hangs in the balance. She may yet be turned into a vampire herself. Soon
it's clear to Paige that the only way to save herself may be to return to the
woman who attacked her...even if it means placing both herself and Kata in the
greatest danger.

Excerpt

This
was her rescuer, she guessed. She'd gone from the jaws of a wolf to the bed of
a woman, so someone had rescued her. But there was nothing about this
woman that said “safe” or “friendly.” She was regal, imposing, and her silence
was intimidating. But Paige didn't have it in her to sit meekly and say
nothing. For all she knew, she could be worse trouble now, with this woman,
than she'd been out in the woods or with the creature she'd fled in the first
place.

The
memory of the woman who wasn't a woman made her shudder, and she touched her
throat. She felt dried blood and a dull ache, and it forced her to speak.

"What
are you?" she asked.

It
was probably the wrong thing to say. She should have said thank you, or asked
where she was, or even asked the woman's name. But those questions didn't
matter even a tiny fucking bit. Not after the nightmare she'd found herself in.

The
woman laughed, a rich sound that made Paige think, incongruously, of sticky
toffee pudding. "You are smarter than I thought," she said in
heavily-accented English. "When you see a woman lost in these woods at
night, you don't think she can be very smart."

Unnerved,
Paige sat up slowly, pulling the rough duvet up with her. She was still fully
clothed, she realized, but the duvet gave her a sense of security anyway.
Stupid, but true.

"My
name is Kata," the woman continued. She turned to a small, rough-hewn
table at the bedside. A jug of water and a glass sat there, and she filled the
glass before offering it to Paige.

Kata
gave her a mock innocent look, eyes wide. "Sorry. Perhaps my English is
not so good."

Paige
thought Kata's English was probably fine, certainly better than Paige's
Romanian. "What are you?" she asked again, louder and slower this
time, in that ignorant manner so many Brits abroad used that she hated. Her
voice shook as she spoke, but she managed to hold Kata's gaze and she was proud
of that.

Kata
set the glass down and pointed to the wound on Paige's throat. "You have
seen things already tonight I think you would not believe, yes? So I will ask
you, what do you think I am?"

Her
voice was gentle, with genuine curiosity in the question. And Paige thought
about it, and thought she could fall into hysterics or rage, deny what her
heart already knew and claim it was impossible. It would be easy—nice, even—to
do that, because twelve hours ago, she would have said it was impossible, and
she would have laughed at anyone who told her otherwise.

The
problem was, hysteria and denial never helped. Staying calm, acknowledging the
problem and finding a solution, that was what helped, whatever the situation.
And besides, wasn't the bite at her throat proof that it wasn't impossible?
Wasn't passing out in front of a wolf and waking up in front of a woman just
further proof? Impossible wasn't impossible anymore.

Naomi likes writing, perfume,
fancy tea, and unfathomable monsters from the dark spaces between the stars,
not necessarily in that order. She has been writing stories ever since she
learned how to write, but is still trying to master the art of biography
writing. When she's not dealing with werewolves, demons, or sea monsters, she's
hanging out with her cat and probably watching a documentary about Bigfoot. If
the cat isn't available, she's with her fiancé watching cookery shows and silently
plotting her next book.

Friday, November 25, 2016

Evernight Readers’ Choice Awards!

Final voting is now open for the Fourth Annual Evernight Readers’ Choice Awards!https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QM3S9TR
Thank you for nominating your favorite Evernight books. Now it’s time
to vote! Show your support by voting for your favorite books and
authors.
Be sure to enter your name and email address at the end of the survey
after your make your selections to be automatically entered for the
chance to WIN a $50 Evernight or Evernight Teen gift certificate!
Voting ends November 30th, so be sure to vote for me—>
I am up for best cover Idolize
Best suspense Idolize

Monday, November 21, 2016

Mystique is happy with her current life, but for years she's struggled on a
path of self-destruction. She knows she shouldn't get involved with the
brooding hunk at the bar, but how can she stay away when his sorrowful gaze is
so compelling?

Reine has lost everything: his wife, his friends, his ability to fight, and
his identity as an Alpha Protector. There's nothing left for him except a world
of anger and bitterness. At least, that’s what he believes until he meets an
intrepid waitress.

The attraction between them is immediate, but while Reine can’t let go of
his past, Mystique is not willing to return to hers. With darkness constantly
closing in, will they find a way to be together? Or, will Reine's behavior
destroy their future?

“Sure,” she agreed. She observed him
for an instant. His eyes were closed. Her gaze traveled across his nose and
over to his full lips. Damn it if she didn’t want to kiss him. She lay back
down, trying to still her beating heart. “What would you like to talk about?”
she asked.

“How about this insane attraction
we’re both feeling?”

“What?” Mystique squeaked.

“You heard me.”

Mystique shut her eyes as she heard
the rustle of his clothes. She didn’t dare open them.

“I haven’t felt so attracted to any
woman in over two years, and from what you’ve told me, it’s been a while for
you too.”

Eight years, she thought. She’d kept
herself away from one-night stands and sex with others in general, afraid she’d
become angry and bitter again if things didn’t work out. She played with her
toys and enjoyed her body on her own. It had been enough, until Reine. He was
driving her hormones crazy.

“Well, yes.” She licked her lips.

“Damn it, woman, do you know what
that does to me?”

Mystique gasped as Reine’s lips
brushed against hers.

“It makes me want to devour your
mouth,” he whispered.

“I’m sorry,” she said, sounding
breathless to her own ears.

“Don’t be. Look at me,” Reine said
gruffly.

She opened her eyes and found his
face inches away. The intensity of his gaze was like looking into a pool of
flaming desire that threatened to consume her.

“I thought—”

“Don’t think. It’ll make it easier.”

She didn’t have time to issue a
protest as he lowered his head and kissed her. They both groaned as their lips
melded against each other. His teeth snagged on her bottom lip, pulling
slightly and making her body react like a fire alarm at the first hint of
smoke. His tongue licked a path across her bottom and upper bow, and she
eagerly opened up for him, needing to taste more. Her nipples hardened beneath
her top.

Reine pulled her up into a sitting
position and smashed his lips against hers. He possessed her mouth with his,
not with strength, but with the ability of a man who knew what he was doing.
His tongue delved deep, intertwining with hers. Mystique moaned. Her mind went
blank, her senses taking priority over anything else. All she could do was feel
the touch of his hand on her back, and the warmth of his mouth against hers.

Breathless, they both pulled back
after a few minutes. Her hands trembling, she pushed a few strands of his hair
away from his face. Reine kissed her gently. She angled her head and he
explored her mouth at a more leisurely pace.

“You drive me insane,” he whispered.
“This is not normal,” he insisted.

Mystique giggled.

“I want to fuck you,” he groaned
into her ear. He brought her hand to his cock. Eagerly, she stroked him over
his jeans. Liquid rushed to coat her panties and a dull ache began to throb
between her legs.

“And what are you waiting for?”

“I can’t. Not here. Not after what
you’ve told me.”

“What?” She placed a hand on his
chest and pushed back. “What do you mean?”

About Elyzabeth M. VaLey

Considered
weird by normal standards – what is normal anyway?- Elyzabeth M. VaLey enjoys
making up songs about mundane things, doodling stars and flowers on any blank
sheet of paper, talking to her Lab whenever he feigns interest and coming up
with love stories to make readers dream.

From contemporary to historical or
fantasy, she enjoys writing stories about good and evil, love and passion and
all that comes in between happy ever after.

Pages

About Maggie

Maggie is a writer of paranormal and contemporary romance. She lives in Adelaide, Australia and is a member of Romance Writers of Australia, and the local chapter SARA(South Australian Romance Authors). She hasa Bachelor of Arts in Drama, English and Creative Writing atFlinders University. She had a short story published in theRWA Topaz Anthology Little Gems in 2010 called Sea andVines. She has six books out with Rogue Phoenix Press. She also has four paranormal romances with Soul Mate Publishing. She is also published in contemporary romance with Evernight Publishing.

She has also performed for many years in corporateentertainment for which she wrote her own sketches, whichprobably explains why her head is so full of characters. Sheloves writing romance but thinks falling in love can be scary,especially in her stories where creatures of the night really exist.